Tis the Season (or the Seasoning?)

In this family, we celebrate Adverb in January with my parents, about 24 days after Christmas. We send out Adverb invitations, pile our gifts on the Adverb table, and open them up all together. We'll probably hold the traditional Adverb barbecue outside on the porch--after all, this is Arizona.

The cats really really wanted to write the Adverb invite song this year. They had a lot of fun posing for the photos last year. You see, usually we'll parody a Christmas carol to make it more appropriate for Adverb. Last year, we did "I'll be Home for Adverb" with photographs for each line. I explained to the cats that we'd already set a date, so we weren't doing formal invites this time. They were very disappointed.

Then they asked if they couldn't write the song, at least. I told them that they could, and set out a roll of newsprint and some poster paint, as well as a saucer of eggnog to get them in the holiday spirit. Perhaps I shouldn't have put on Madonna's Christmas album, becuase this is what they came up with . . .

Santa Monkey, we've been hearing all about you, lately
You puffly stranger monkey
Santa Monkey, with the big bag of treats on your back.

Santa Monkey, we've been very good cats this year
Only threw a couple of parrrrrrrties
Santa Monkey, with the big bag of treats on your back.

We hardly ever drove the car
(And when we did it wasn't far)
Only down into Mexico
And then right back, nice and slow
Meow meow, meow meow meow

Santa Monkey, surely we could have some shrimp toes, I s'pose
We've been at least that good
Santa Monkey, with the big bag of treats on your back.

Santa Monkey, we'd really love to have a big bag, to drag
Filled up with jerky
Santa Monkey, with the big bag of treats on your back.

Santa Monkey, you know we love tuna water, we gotta
Get thumbs to open the cans
Santa Monkey, with the big bag of treats on your back.

We've been good for minutes on end
All for you, our stranger friend
Please now make it worth our whiles
We'll show you our Cheshire smiles
Meow meow, meow meow meow

Santa Monkey, did we mention that we also like cheese? Don't tease
And kindly skip the crackers
Santa Monkey, with the big bag of treats on your back.

Hurry through the cat door tonight
With a big bag of treats on your back.